Types of Verbs: Exploring Modal, Stative, Infinitives, and Transitive Verbs
Quick Answer
English has different types of verbs. The main ones are modal verbs (can, must, should), stative verbs (know, love, believe), action verbs (run, eat, write), transitive verbs (need an object after them), intransitive verbs (no object needed), and infinitives (to + verb).
Example: She can speak English. (can = modal verb — it shows ability)
Six Types of Verbs — See How They Work
Look at these sentences. The key verb is in blue:
- She can drive a car. (can = modal verb — shows ability)
- I know the answer. (know = stative verb — shows a thought, not an action)
- He runs every morning. (runs = action verb — shows something he does)
- She reads a book. (reads = transitive verb — it needs “a book” after it)
- The baby laughed. (laughed = intransitive verb — no object needed)
- I want to learn English. (to learn = infinitive — “to” + verb)
Did you see the pattern? Each verb has a different job. Some show ability, some show feelings, some show actions, and some need an object after them.
| Type | What It Does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Modal verbs | Show ability, permission, or rules | can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would |
| Stative verbs | Show thoughts, feelings, or senses | know, love, believe, hate, want, see, hear |
| Action verbs | Show something someone does | run, eat, write, play, cook, dance |
| Transitive verbs | Need an object after them | read (a book), send (an email), give (advice) |
| Intransitive verbs | Do not need an object | laugh, sleep, arrive, sit, cry |
| Infinitives | “To” + the base verb | to run, to eat, to learn, to see |
How Each Type of Verb Works
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are special helping words. They go before another verb to add meaning — like ability, permission, or a rule.
- Can / could — ability or possibility: “I can swim.”
- May / might — possibility or permission: “It might rain today.”
- Must / should — rules or advice: “You must wear a seatbelt.”
- Will / would — future or polite requests: “I will call you tomorrow.”
Important rule: Modal verbs NEVER use “to” before the next verb. Say “I can swim” — not “I can to swim.”
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs describe a state — like a feeling, a thought, or something you sense. They are NOT actions you can see.
- Feelings: love, hate, like, prefer, want
- Thoughts: know, believe, think (opinion), understand, remember
- Senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel
- Possession: have, own, belong
Important rule: Stative verbs usually do NOT use -ing. Say “I know the answer” — not “I am knowing the answer.”
Action Verbs
Action verbs show something a person does — something you can see or hear. They CAN use -ing.
- She is running in the park.
- They cooked dinner last night.
- He plays football every Saturday.
Easy way to remember: If you can see someone doing it, it is an action verb.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
This is about what comes AFTER the verb.
A transitive verb needs an object — it does not make sense without one:
- She reads a book. (What does she read? A book = the object)
- He sent an email. (What did he send? An email = the object)
An intransitive verb does NOT need an object — it is complete on its own:
- The children laughed. (No object needed — the sentence is complete)
- She arrived at 3 o’clock. (No object — “at 3 o’clock” tells when, not what)
Easy way to remember: Ask “What?” after the verb. If you need an answer, it is transitive. If the sentence is already complete, it is intransitive.
Infinitives
An infinitive is the basic form of a verb with “to” in front of it: to run, to eat, to learn.
Infinitives can do different jobs in a sentence:
- As the subject: To travel is my dream.
- After another verb: I want to learn English.
- To show a reason: She left early to catch the bus.
Important rule: After modal verbs, do NOT use “to.” Say “I can swim” — not “I can to swim.”
The Rule in One Line: Modals never take “to,” stative verbs never take “-ing,” and transitive verbs always need an object.
Real-Life Examples With Different Verb Types
- You should drink more water. (should = modal verb — giving advice)
- I believe this is the right answer. (believe = stative verb — a thought, not an action)
- She bought a new phone yesterday. (bought = transitive verb — needs “a new phone” as the object)
- The sun rose at 6 a.m. (rose = intransitive verb — no object needed)
- He goes to the gym to stay healthy. (to stay = infinitive — shows the reason)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With Verb Types
Even advanced learners mix up these verb types sometimes — so if you make these mistakes, you are not alone. Do not worry. Let’s fix them now.
Mistake 1: Using “to” after a modal verb
✗ She can to swim very well.
✓ She can swim very well.
✗ You must to bring your passport.
✓ You must bring your passport.
Mistake 2: Using -ing with a stative verb
✗ I am knowing the answer.
✓ I know the answer.
✗ She is believing you.
✓ She believes you.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the object after a transitive verb
✗ She brought. (Brought what?)
✓ She brought the food.
How to remember: Modal verbs go straight to the base verb — no “to” in between. Stative verbs (feelings, thoughts, senses) stay in the simple form — no -ing. And if you use a transitive verb, always check: what did they do it to?
Test Yourself: What Type of Verb Is It?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. “She can swim very well.” — What type of verb is “can”?
2. I _______ chocolate ice cream. It is my favourite.
3. “He reads a book every night.” — What is “reads” in this sentence?
4. She went to the shop _______ some milk.
5. You _______ bring your passport tomorrow. It is very important.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned the six main types of verbs in English. That is a big step — most learners study for months before they can tell a modal verb from a stative verb.
But here is something interesting. You use helping verbs in almost every English sentence, and you might not even notice. When you say “She is running” or “They have finished,” the words is and have are helping the main verb. But how do you choose between be, have, and do? And when does a helping verb become the main verb?
Next lesson: What Are Auxiliary Verbs? The Three Helping Words in Every Sentence
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My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
